I hate nature

Either my tolerance for such things is in decline, or there is more pollen around this year than last. My eyes itch and I could really do with scratching my lungs.

This despite taking an antihistamine pill this morning.

Of course, it’s probably no worse than previous years, but who remembers precisely how irritating hay fever was a year or two ago?

I hate nature

Either my tolerance for such things is in decline, or there is more pollen around this year than last. My eyes itch and I could really do with scratching my lungs.

This despite taking an antihistamine pill this morning.

Of course, it’s probably no worse than previous years, but who remembers precisely how irritating hay fever was a year or two ago?

Five from the iPod

Not to say that I’m bored, but here’s five from the iPod in the order they’re played:

A Solid Bond in your Heart - Style Council. A solid offering from the second most earnest leftie in the music business today after the whining Manc.

Sitting Upon a Shelf: John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest. An interesting little number from the John Lees led variant of the franchise band. Despite having been recorded and released in 1999, it clearly harks back to the folky style of the late 60s and early 70s. Pity we’ll never hear it with Les Holroyd’s guitar.

Custard Pie: Led Zeppelin. The opening track from Physical Graffiti; average Zep track from classic album, which made a star attraction of the tenement buildings at 96 and 98 St. Mark's Place, New York City.

What Do I Do With My Heart: The Eagles. Frey, Henley and Walsh revisit past glories with an album that recalls but does not quite match Hotel Claifornia.

On the Bound: Fiona Apple. Appropriately bouncy and quite beefy track about which I know nothing, by an artiste I have barely heard of. From the album When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You'll Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You Know That You're Right.

- and people call progressive music pretentious!

Five from the iPod

Not to say that I’m bored, but here’s five from the iPod in the order they’re played:

A Solid Bond in your Heart - Style Council. A solid offering from the second most earnest leftie in the music business today after the whining Manc.

Sitting Upon a Shelf: John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest. An interesting little number from the John Lees led variant of the franchise band. Despite having been recorded and released in 1999, it clearly harks back to the folky style of the late 60s and early 70s. Pity we’ll never hear it with Les Holroyd’s guitar.

Custard Pie: Led Zeppelin. The opening track from Physical Graffiti; average Zep track from classic album, which made a star attraction of the tenement buildings at 96 and 98 St. Mark's Place, New York City.

What Do I Do With My Heart: The Eagles. Frey, Henley and Walsh revisit past glories with an album that recalls but does not quite match Hotel Claifornia.

On the Bound: Fiona Apple. Appropriately bouncy and quite beefy track about which I know nothing, by an artiste I have barely heard of. From the album When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You'll Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You Know That You're Right.

- and people call progressive music pretentious!